The Bath Strings Academy is launching a new two-day creative music course for woodwind and strings which takes place on during the February half-term over Thursday 21 and Friday 22 February.
The courses allow students a choice of one or two days of creative composition, ensemble playing and musical games, led by a team of professional musicians and experienced workshop leaders. Each day will include different activities designed to develop musicianship, improve group playing skills and explore musical creativity in a fun and stimulating environment.
The workshops will be taking their inspiration from the musical forms of ‘Rondo’ and ‘Theme & Variation’, used famously in Benjamin Britten’s ‘’A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’. Participants will have fun playing pieces by well-known composers, engaging in musical games that develop their understanding of musical structure and then working in small groups to compose their own pieces.
The course is open to woodwind and orchestral string players from complete beginner to intermediate and advanced. Players will be grouped according to age and experience level.
Course Fee: £40 per player per day (including booking fee)
Sibling Discount: £35 per day (including booking fee)
Mentor: £25 per day (including booking fee)
Parent: £5 per day (including booking fee)
Course Times: 10am – 4pm with interim breaks (drinks and snacks provided)
Venue: Abbot Alphege School, Lansdown, Bath, BA1 9AU
Informal Performance for family and friends: 3.45pm
Photo: Michelle Falcon
Bath Strings has also announced its Strange Creatures Musical Workshop which will take place on Sunday 28 April at 9.45am – 12.45pm and/or 2.00pm – 5.00pm
These two half-day workshops will explore the music of strange creatures. Participants can attend a half day or a whole day as we look at music from Saint-Saens ‘The Carnival of the Animals’.
This is a multi-level workshop which is suitable for string players of violin, viola, cello and double bass, from complete beginners (playing only open strings) to intermediate and advanced players. Family groups are welcomed – parents play for a fiver!
Beginners will find a warm, inclusive atmosphere and music that is approachable, whatever your experience level. More experienced players will be challenged to refine their playing during the workshop, as playing easier music allows us time to focus on the more detailed aspects of string-playing technique.
Focus exercises and differentiated parts will be given to the more experienced players, who may also like to consider attending as part of our BSA Leadership and Mentoring Scheme. Participants have the opportunity to work in small groups as well as in a string orchestra, learning valuable ensemble skills whilst playing music which balances fun and challenge.
Course Fee: £22 per player per half day / £38 per full day (including booking fee)
Sibling Discount: £17 per half day / £33 per full day (including booking fee)
Mentor: £11 per half day / £22 per full day (including booking fee)
Parent: £5 per half or full day (including booking fee)
Course Times: 10am – 12.45pm & 1.30pm – 4.15pm with interim breaks (drinks and snacks provided)
Venue: Widcombe Junior School, Bath, BA2 4JG
Informal Performance for family and friends: 12.30pm and 4pm